So with this issue we have left Ivytown and have entered crossover territory. This is actually all right with me, as I kindasorta plan on picking up at least part of the "Search for Ray Palmer" thing (at least as far as I can figure out what's included in it, which come to think of it doesn't seem to be totally clear).
This issue really had my attention from the first page, with Ryan being distracted from the potentially dangerous bad guy (Chronos) by his scientist's brain, paying more attention to trying to figure out "what is it that powers this crazy thing" than to Chronos' monologue. I have no idea who Chronos is, or what his adversarial relationship with Ray was like, but it's got my interest now. Chronos, apparently, has undergone "Catman-ization" and is now (presumably?) a more formidable foe than in past appearances. There's also some moral ambiguity going on--although he was an Atom villain, he claims to have respect for Ray, and an interest in keeping him alive--and this adaptation of Golden or Silver Age goofiness to modern times which is another thing Simone tends to like to use in her stories. I guess she isn't the only one, but I particularly like that, for her, making an old character more dangerous and interesting is more likely to involve making them more complex and multidimensional than making them more psychotic and evil.
Creepiest panel of the book? Dean Mayland, ready for his delicious bath, pulls open his robe and we see ...Ken. As in nothing between the legs. Ew.
The story in the miniature village was not bad. It is a little odd to see Ryan using all these heretofore-unknown abilities--last issue's revelation that he does know some martial arts, this issue's revelation that Ryan's mom was a gold medal gymnast (and apparently at some point she taught him what she knew. that or there's a genetic component I'm unaware of). It seems a little contrived, and I'm curious as to why he didn't use any of this skill earlier in the series, when he could surely have used it, but for now it at least provides more of a reason why Ray might have considered Ryan a good choice to take on the mantle of the Atom.
Oh, and the last page? I gather that the guy in the leather jacket is Jason Todd? (Just guessing, since the woman is definitely Donna Troy.) And I'm appreciative of the little blurb in the bottom right corner, the one that says "But first check out Countdown #42." See, these little things help when you're running a crossover event. We readers appreciate it when there are lists of what we need if we want to read the whole thing. (As someone who pre-orders, I'd like it better if this stuff appeared earlier on, but it's still a kind thought.)
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